NZBS student Félix Vaunois wins Berlin film festival

Moko: A Film about a Maori Poet

By Félix Vaunois

New Zealand Broadcasting School student Félix Vaunois has won the documentary award at the Berlin Student Film Festival.

His film Moko: A Film about a Maori Poet follows Lyttelton poet Ben Brown. It chronicles the inner struggle of an artist, the conflict with self and the way words can sometimes have an effect on people.

Felix created the documentary in his second year as a screen production student at NZBS. He has just finished the 24-week internship, which completes the degree.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to be given this award. Berlin is a huge name in film," says Felix.

To win is "amazing given the small scale and intimacy of the story" and comes after being selected in the top 25 for the Sundance Ignite Challenge, a competition for 18 to 24-year-old film makers.

The film screened in New Zealand at the Doc Edge festival where it received a special mention in the shorts category and won best film by a tertiary education student.

Felix is thankful that Ben Brown supported the film and for the reception it got in Lyttelton.

"He has an amazing story and I'm so thankful that he allowed me to tell it. The film belongs to him and his words."